HMD Global Teases Nokia 8 Android Oreo Update

Nokia smartphones run the pure version of Android. They will receive software updates faster than most Android handsets that come loaded with bloatware. HMD Global, which makes Nokia-branded devices, has previously said that all its Android handsets including the Nokia 3, 5, 6, and the latest Nokia 8 will receive the Android Oreo update. A senior HMD executive has now teased the Nokia 8 Android Oreo update.

Image Source: Juho Sarvikas / Twitter (screenshot)

Nokia 8 Android Oreo update is 1.3GB in size

Juho Sarvikas, the Global Chief Product Officer at HMD Global, said in a tweet that the Nokia 8 Android Oreo update was “maturing nicely.” The tweet included a couple of images of the flagship smartphone running the Oreo beta. “Stay tuned,” he told fans. Sarvikas didn’t reveal when the update will be pushed out to the Nokia phones. The rumor mill claims Nokia users will get the latest software in the fourth quarter of this year.

Being a flagship product, the Nokia 8 could be the first phone from HMD Global to get the Oreo update. Other handsets such as the Nokia 3, 5, and 6 would get it just days later or at the same time. The images shared by Sarvikas suggest that the Finnish smartphone vendor is testing the Android Oreo. The new OS is currently being rolled out around the world.

According to the images, the Nokia 8 Android Oreo update will be about 1.3GB in size. That’s a fairly decent size for a major software update. HMD Global could further compress it before rolling out to the public. A few days ago, a Nokia handset running Oreo appeared on the GFXBench. Even though the device on benchmarking site was named Nokia 9, experts believe it was Nokia 8.

Nokia 8 features and specs

Nokia 8 was unveiled last month in London. The device has a unibody aluminum design with a physical home button on the front that houses the fingerprint scanner. The Nokia flagship boasts a 5.3-inch Quad HD screen, 4GB RAM, and the latest Snapdragon 835 processor. It comes with 64GB of internal memory that you can further expand by up to 128GB via a microSD card slot.

The phone has a 13-megapixel camera on the front for selfies. On the back, it sports two vertically arranged 13-megapixel sensors with phase detection autofocus and dual LED flash. Both lenses offer an f/2.0 aperture. HMD Global has used Zeiss optics on the device. Nokia 8 comes with a “bothie” feature that lets people use the front and back cameras simultaneously in a split-screen view.

The Nokia 8 also features Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The handset comes with the OZO audio technology that offers immersive spatial surround sound experience on your smartphone. HMD Global has added a 3090mAh non-removable battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support. The device has a unique heat management technology with a graphite-shielded copper cooling pipe to prevent overheating. Nokia 8 will be available in Polished Copper, Polished Blue, Steel, and Tempered Blue color options.

The phone isn’t yet available worldwide, though it is expected to release globally in the coming weeks. Nokia 8 went on sale in Germany and Australia earlier this month. It costs €579 in Germany and AUD 899 in Australia. Previously, the device was available only in HMD Global’s home country Finland. In other major markets such as India, the phone will launch in early October.

Nokia 9 schematics leaked

Nokia 9, another flagship handset from HMD Global, is expected to be unveiled in the coming months. Recently leaked schematics suggest that the Nokia 9 will have a bezel-less design with no physical home button. The fingerprint sensor sits on the back panel right below the dual cameras. The phone appears to have an AMOLED display that curves on both sides.

The Nokia 9 is rumored to launch in early 2018. The rumor mill claims it will have wireless charging technology, and a dual camera on the back with Zeiss optics. The device would be powered by Snapdragon 835. There is little chance of Nokia 9 featuring the Snapdragon 845. Though the new processor will debut early next year, Samsung has reportedly secured the initial supply of Snapdragon 845 for its Galaxy S9. The Korean company’s strategic move will force other Android vendors to opt for an older processor or delay the release of their flagship devices.

Sources familiar with the matter recently told NokiaPowerUser that Nokia 9 would be available in two variants: one with 6GB RAM and another with 8GB RAM. Both of them would have 128GB of built-in storage and a microSD card slot. The report added that the device would launch with an iris scanner and the IP68 rating for water-resistance. It is expected to be slightly more expensive than the Nokia 8.

Author: Vikas ShuklaAlthough he has a background in finance and holds an MBA, Vikas Shukla is a technology reporter. He has a strong interest in gadgets, gizmos, and science. He writes regularly on these topics. - He can be contacted by email at vshukla@valuewalk.com